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Universal Themes
by
Universal Themes Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 40 Ratings

  • Summary: The seventh full-length release for the indie rock band features contributions from Steve Shelley and a majority of it was recorded in San Francisco.
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Top Track

The Possum
Yesterday, I was working in my yard when I saw a possum Swinging in the foothills and he was all beat up and hobbling I got a closer look and his... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. The A.V. Club
    Jun 2, 2015
    91
    They’re occasionally manic and often rambling, but nevertheless they offer brutally honest and undeniably fascinating glimpses into his life and worldview.
  2. Uncut
    Jun 3, 2015
    90
    In the china shop of his last five years' work, this LP is the bull. [Jul 2015, p.70]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Mojo
    Jul 6, 2015
    80
    Aching, poetically quotidian observations permeate Universal Themes. [Aug 2015, p.89]
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  4. Sputnikmusic
    Jun 12, 2015
    76
    It’s hard to move past this when there’s so much going on but, whether we expect to like it or not--which mostly translates to whether we expect to be able to put up with him or not, we owe it to Universal Themes to try. Despite his behaviour, it's still a great album.
  5. musicOMH.com
    Jun 15, 2015
    70
    It’s often difficult to know whether these songs are rushed and off-the-cuff, or whether they are in fact meticulously planned.
  6. Slant Magazine
    Jun 1, 2015
    70
    Kozelek veers between wry, pissed-off, and ruminative expression without ever really settling on any of those. While that means Universal Themes never reaches the same highs as Benji, it does allow the listener to become fully immersed inside Kozelek's head, which is an alternately terrifying and hilarious place to be.
  7. Under The Radar
    Jun 11, 2015
    45
    For someone who has experienced genuine tragedy in his life and has made a career of autobiographical subject matter, it's pretty damn dull.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. Nedloh94
    Jun 2, 2015
    9
    This is a dense listen. Each song feels aimless, but every song has a central idea behind it. Overall, though, the album feels as thoughThis is a dense listen. Each song feels aimless, but every song has a central idea behind it. Overall, though, the album feels as though Kozelek is talking about being thrust into situations that make him feel out of place, or where other people are out of their comfort zones. Definitely gives the middle-of-nowhere cover art a bit more meaning. In that sense, the album is a brilliant amalgamation of seemingly random incidents that each connect. With that, there is almost nothing else like Universal Themes. Though it is dense, and occasionally shambolic and dissonant, Universal Themes is wildly rewarding, and characteristically heartfelt and human of Kozelek, while still finding the Koz pushing his craft in exciting, challenging directions.… Expand
  2. nirvanafreak
    Jun 3, 2015
    8
    No album has moved me this year like Sun Kil Moon's Universal Themes. His lyrics are intriguing, his vocals are raw and he has just put outNo album has moved me this year like Sun Kil Moon's Universal Themes. His lyrics are intriguing, his vocals are raw and he has just put out one of the best albums of the year with 8 long but fulfilling tracks about a mixture of subjects and cry me a river Williamsburg sleeve tattoo blues is an amazing title, just saying.
    Fav tracks:The possum, garden of lavender, cry me a river Williamsburg sleeve tattoo blues, little rascals
    Least fav track:I don't know i guess if I had to pick I'd say Birds of flim    … Expand
  4. Custom_Concerns
    Jun 9, 2015
    5
    I'll preface this by saying that Benji is not only my favorite album of 2014, but one of my favorites of all time. Despite the similar lyricalI'll preface this by saying that Benji is not only my favorite album of 2014, but one of my favorites of all time. Despite the similar lyrical approach in Universal Themes, the detailed stories are far less poignant this time around. Instead of being about the most significant moments of Kozelek's life, they are rather the small, everyday aspects. While this approach has been successfully implemented (see: Courtney Barnett), it doesn't work very well here. The instrumentation and songwriting are too incoherent and unfocused to provide a strong backdrop to the lyrics, especially considering the songs are so long. Overall, the album feels more unfocused than it does avant-garde.… Expand
  5. SirNilesIV
    Jul 15, 2015
    3
    What a slow waste of a terrific artist. Kozelek has what seems like limitless potential, but his last few albums (including this) are such aWhat a slow waste of a terrific artist. Kozelek has what seems like limitless potential, but his last few albums (including this) are such a waste of time, I'm not sure how anyone could recommend it other than the sycophants. Give me April, Rock 'N' Roll Singer, and the literally fantastic Ghosts of the Great Highway, anyday. This, I and YOU, should pass on.… Expand

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